The noise problem I can live with as I intend printing 6*4 inch max anyway but the overall color smudging is just not acceptable (even at low iso).

You have lost me there. If you are only going to print at 6x4 and presumably look at them on a monitor then why look at something like these cameras? You will never tell the difference at 6x4. You would be best to go for a camera based on size & features not IQ.

Re you comment re washed out photos, as is the case with all these cameras, the colours, contrast and saturation can be adjusted internally to give you OOC jogs just as you like them. It really shouldn't be one of your criteria for selecting a camera unless you want to stick it on auto and adjust nothing.